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HAYSTACK COMMENTARY
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February 2026 |
CULTURAL APOLOGETCS DATABASE
ED NOTE=Zorek Richards Inclusion on this website to not necessitate agreement |
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When the Roman Empire and Christianity became conjoined, the result was a rich and powerful theocratic tyranny, the medieval church, that exercised mind-control and coercion and murdered dissidents. This is not what true Christians should desire or participate in. "holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Keep away from such men as these." - 2 Timothy 3:5 |
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February 9, 2026
White evangelicals remain among Trump’s strongest supporters, but they’re less supportive than a year ago One year into President Donald Trump’s second term, White evangelical Protestants remain among his strongest supporters. The latest Pew Research Center survey, conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026, finds that most White evangelicals (69%) approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president. And a majority (58%) say they support all or most of his plans and policies. A smaller share of White evangelicals (40%) say they are extremely or very confident Trump acts ethically in office. But on this question, too, they express substantially more positive views than other Americans. (Pew Research; 2.9.26) READMORE>>>>> Mark Meckler Says It's 'Revolting' For Zohran Mamdani To Discuss His Muslim Faith Mark Meckler is a Christian nationalist political activist and right-wing commentator, the sort who brags about being "a radical, right-wing, Tea Party, Bible-thumping, gun-toting conservative" and praises President Donald Trump for supposedly having rescued the word "retard" from the woke thought police. Meckler, who is co-founder and president of the Convention of States Foundation, a conservative organization that seeks to get state legislatures to call for an Article V convention to propose constitutional amendments that will dramatically limit the power of the federal government, is also a vocal opponent of Islam. As such, it was no surprise to hear hm complain about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani citing his Muslim faith during remarks he delivered at a recent interfaith prayer breakfast. (Right Wing Watch; 2.9.26) READMORE>>>>> February 8, 2026
Diplomatic Snub: US Broadcaster Rejects Oluremi Tinubu’s Interview Request Amidst $9m Lobbying Row In a stinging public rejection, prominent American broadcast journalist and President of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, has revealed he refused an interview request from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her recent high-profile visit to the United States. Speaking on his program, Washington Watch, Perkins disclosed that the First Lady’s team sought a platform to discuss religious freedom in Nigeria. However, the broadcaster summarily rejected the approach, citing concerns that the administration was attempting to “cover up” ongoing persecution. “The First Lady of Nigeria was here this week, and in fact, they wanted to come on the programme to talk about religious freedom, and I said, ‘I’m not gonna meet with them or have a meeting with anybody,’” Perkins stated during his broadcast. He added pointedly, “I’m not gonna give them a platform to cover up what they’re doing in Nigeria”. (247 UReports; 2.8.26) READMORE>>>>> America’s Christian revival is a hoax Contrary to ridiculous reports, America is merely witnessing a Christian reboot, not a Christian revival. And reboots are rarely as good as the original. To hear cultural tastemakers tell it, faith is fashionable again. Songs with Christian lyrics climb the charts. Cross necklaces reappear on red carpets. Political leaders promise to “defend Christians.” Podcasters debate whether belief has become cool once more. Even NPR, not exactly known for altar calls, recently asked whether Christianity has found new life in popular culture.But culture isn’t the same as church. Visibility isn’t the same as vitality. And Christianity without commitment isn’t Christianity in any meaningful sense. (The Hill; 2.8.26) READMORE>>>>> Evangelicals wrestle with faith and politics as ICE surge continues in Minnesota Some 80% of evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. But as the immigration crackdown has unfolded in Minnesota — where federal agents killed observers Renee Good and Alex Pretti and where many ordinary people have risen up in protest — some evangelical Christians find Trump’s actions at odds with Jesus’ teachings. “As evangelical Christians, we’re known for placing a high priority on the sanctity of life and human dignity,” said Carl Nelson, president and CEO of Richfield-based Transform Minnesota, a 60-year-old network with hundreds of churches. “When we look at what is happening, we believe that any orderly or just approach to immigration enforcement has to adhere to those values.” (The Lawton Constitution; 2.8.26) READMORE>>>>> February 7, 2026
Stephen Colbert: ‘Trump would eat a bicycle tire if you put it on a bun’ On Thursday night, Stephen Colbert responded to White House adviser Paula White-Cain’s claims that Donald Trump is “the GOAT”, while Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers addressed ICE and Jeffrey Epstein. Over on the Late Show, Colbert turned his attention to Trump’s appearance at the national prayer breakfast and his speech at the Washington Hilton hotel. Or as Colbert called the president’s 77minute address, “special material just for the prayer munchers”. Ahead of his remarks, Trump was introduced by White-Cain, the White House senior adviser who Colbert called a “haunted Bloomingdale’s mannequin”. White-Cain introduced the president as “the GOAT: the greatest of all time”. (Press Reader; 2.8.26) READMORE>>>>> When a Christian World Loses Christ In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the latest installment of the hit zombie film franchise kicked off by 28 Days Later in 2002, the liberal world order has given way to a Hobbesian state of nature. Its fictional Britain is thoroughly secular; Christianity remains only vestigially, mostly in the language of the survivors of the zombie apocalypse that began the first movie. God has left Britain, evidently unmourned. Together with the survivors, we the viewers are left to work out what’s left in His absence. The initial 28 Days Later showed us a hollowed-out Britain inhabited by the survivors of a disease (the so-called “rage virus”). Released last year, 28 Years Later, was a sequel taking place, yes, 28 years after the events in the first film. It was the first film in a trilogy intended to close out the franchise, and creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland were eager to show audiences that, as in the real world, a lot has changed in the intervening 28 years. They did that in part by looking to the past. It should be noted that the past Boyle and Garland reach for is a peculiarly British one; 28 Years Later’s controversial whiplash of an ending was so British as to be virtually unintelligible to most Americans. So it is perhaps unsurprising that the latest, the mid-trilogy 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, isn’t performing especially well at the U.S. box office. (The Dispatch; 2.7.26) READMORE>>>>> Club cancels MAGA comedian’s shows after he called Renee Good a “ret**ded lesbian” His talent agency is boycotting the club in protest after his vile set mocking the queer mom went viral. Creative Artists Agency, the mega Hollywood talent agency, is backing right-wing comedian Ben Bankas in his fight with a Minnesota comedy club. Laugh Camp in St. Paul canceled Bankas’ three-night run following an offensive riff on Renee Good that went viral. (LGBTQ Nation; 2.7.26) READMORE>>>>> Trump’s Racist Post Deserves Outrage Late Thursday evening, President Donald Trump posted an egregiously racist video clip on social media that portrayed former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as apes. The AI-generated image of the Obamas as primates—a racist trope that has historically been used to dehumanize Black people and justify slavery—was shown at the end of a 62-second video that promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost and refuses to concede. When asked about the video on Friday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confidently defended the clip, calling complaints about it “fake rage” and saying it only depicted Democrats as “characters from The Lion King” (though there are no apes in the film). (Christianity Today; 2.7.26) READMORE>>>>> February 6, 2026
Independent Christian conservatives make moves to run in swing district Two independent conservative Christian candidates have taken steps to run for Senate and House seats in a notable Idaho swing district. District 26 — covering Blaine, Lincoln and Jerome counties — had a close three-way race for the Senate in 2024 that led to the re-election of Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, by a 1.7% margin. Sen. Ron TaylorIndependent candidate Kala Tate received 10.5% of the vote and told the Twin Falls Times-News days after the election that she achieved her campaign’s goal and “stole several thousand votes” from Republican Laurie Lickley in order to elect Taylor. (Idahoednews; 2.6.26) READMORE>>>>> This Is What Actual Christianity Is Supposed to Sound Like They were both 37 years old, murdered by federal agents in Minneapolis, less than three weeks apart. On January 7, Renee Good was sitting in her car when she was shot three times, including once in the head. On January 24, Alex Pretti was filming federal agents with his cell phone, exercising his First Amendment right to protest their presence peacefully. They shoved him to the ground and several of them beat him. An agent removed a handgun from Alex’s waistband, which he carried legally, and a few seconds after disarming him, 10 shots were fired in five seconds into his prone body on the ground. (New Republic; 2.6.26) READMORE>>>>> 'In the US, Christian nationalism contributes to the dismantling of democracy' In 2026, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Preparations are already underway to commemorate July 4, 1776, the day when American colonists declared themselves independent from the British monarchy. As we mark that milestone, democracy is under threat. The Declaration's underlying commitment to the "self-evident truths" that "all men are created equal" and that a just government is rooted in the consent of the governed is crumbling. The ideal has always been flawed in its deployment, but even those not treated as equal before the law have used the broadly held commitment to equality to challenge injustice.Dominant forms of American religion have embraced, and reinforced, social equality as a widely held value. While some forms of Christianity have rejected equality as a social value, the forms that thrived in the US were born in a rejection of God-ordained hierarchy. (LeMonde 2.6.26) READMORE>>>>> February 5, 2026:
RANDOM NOTES & POLITICAL BYTES
 Zorek
The governments of several countries around the world are reacting to the release of the millions of files released last week.
UK had an official resign. Polish PM says they are investigating if the "satanic circle" trafficked Polish women or girls AND whether Epstein had association with Russia and another seeking info on whether Epstein was blackmailing people for Russia. The files also revealed a 2009 email exchange between Epstein and a person identifying as a CBC Edmonton,Canada employee; the CBC stated they had no knowledge of this relationship. Jack Lang, a former French culture minister showed up in the file release. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico is open to cooperating with U.S. authorities if requested in the investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case, after prominent Mexican business and political figures were named in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Emails revealed that Epstein arranged for a Russian woman to meet "Eduardo" in London, identified as Eduardo Teodorani, an Italian businessman and chairman of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK. Teodorani appears extensively in the documents and asked Epstein about visiting Europe in 2012. King Frederik X: According to reports citing the new files, then-Crown Prince Frederik (Denmark) was mentioned twice in 2012 communications related to dinners with Epstein associate. Connections to Germany primarily revolve around his financial dealings with Deutsche Bank and alleged, unverified interest from German business figures. The government record recounts the informant, known in government-speak as a confidential human source (CHS), recalling that Epstein's attorney, Alan Dershowitz, told then-US Attorney of the Southern District of Florida Alex Ocasta "that Epstein belonged to both U.S. and allied intelligence services." Emails showed Epstein discussed how to profit from Scottish developments around 2014. >>The USA has lots of connections and Trump is at the top of that list from mentions in files and witness testimony. And there are still Magas who have blinded themselves from it...as Trump lies and claims he know nothing. It wasn't that long ago that he said he didnt even know Epstein.<<
February 5, 2026
Trump lets it slip he has never read the Bible during bizarre prayer breakfast rant During rambling public remarks, Donald Trump may have made a telling revelation at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Trump recalled an endorsement made nearly 10 years ago by radio host and pastor Robert Jeffres on TV while he was running for his first term. "I know every candidate very well., and I know Trump a little bit. He may not be as good with the Bible as some of them. He may not have read the Bible as much as some of them," Trump recalled Jeffres saying. "In fact, he may not have ever read the Bible, but he will be a much stronger messenger for us.""And, you know, I didn't want to admit anything, but that was very interesting," the president added, signaling that there was some truth to the pastor's words. (Irish Star; 2.5.26) READMORE>>>>> Americans United denounces Trump’s Christian Nationalist remarks at National Prayer Breakfast Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s remarks today during the National Prayer Breakfast: “President Trump once again demonstrated why the National Prayer Breakfast is a gross corruption of religious freedom and our country’s promise of church-state separation. For more than an hour he launched partisan attacks at a religious event purportedly meant to foster unity. He lied about the Johnson Amendment, America’s popular law that prevents tax-exempt nonprofits, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates – falsely claiming he got rid of it, though in fact this federal law is very much still in effect. And he spewed Christian Nationalist rhetoric about rededicating ‘America as one nation under God’ during an ‘America prays’ event in May and about prayer being ‘America’s superpower.’ Our nation’s commitment to church-state separation, the guarantee of religious freedom, is America’s real superpower, and an American original. (Americans United; 2.5.26) READMORE>>>>> A Multiracial Right? Reflecting on the multiethnic Evangelical world I grew up in, I cannot dismiss out of hand the possibility of a lasting multiracial rightwing coalition. I knew many nonwhite conservative Evangelicals as a child, and there are more voters who answer to that description now than there were then. A progressive could argue that, all other things being equal, a multiracial rightwing party is at least better than a white-nationalist party. But the more important point is that it might now be time to question the assumption that the Democratic Party will always be the more racially and ethnically diverse of the two major parties, and that its increasing diversity alone will allow it to save liberal democracy from the forces that threaten it. Here, I’m reminded of the long-held secular liberal assumption that expanding science, education, and modernization would necessarily lead to a decline of religious belief—an assumption mainly confirmed in Europe but not elsewhere. Similarly, Democrats can no longer just assume that Blacks and Hispanics will always vote for them simply because of their race—and that this will be enough to guarantee a majority. Democratic candidates will have to win their support through a politics that is responsive to the needs and concerns of this country’s multiracial working-class majority. As the last election proved, their votes are now up for grabs. (Commonweal; 2.5.26) READMORE>>>>> February 4, 2026:
RANDOM NOTES & POLITICAL BYTES
 Zorek
President Trump said that it’s “really time” for the country to move on from Jeffrey Epstein following the release of nearly 3 million more documents by the Justice Department late last week. It's all part of the delusion he lives in. In the UK the Royal family has been acknowledging Epstein victims. All coming about from the Epstein Files release. Lord Mandelson stepped down because of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA): "Why are Republicans are so interested in the Bill and Hillary Clinton it's because they're trying to distract from the fact that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files thousands & thousands of times. In those files, there's highly disturbing allegations of Donald Trump raping children, of Donald Trump threatening to kill children." I saw this. Trump went ballistic. He's so out of touch with reality.
 I saw this. Trump went ballistic. He's so out of touch with reality. -ZR
As House Republicans force Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton to testify under threat of contempt in the Jeffrey Epstein probe, Trump is publicly wringing his hands — and privately doing the math.
“I think it’s a shame,” Trump sighed, suddenly discovering empathy. “I always liked him,” he said of Bill Clinton. Of Hillary? “She’s a very capable woman.” He even added, “I hate to see it in many ways.” Funny how fast the tone changes when the precedent starts pointing back at you. Because that’s the real story here. By strong-arming the Clintons into testifying, House Republicans have crossed a historic line: Congress has now established that former presidents can be compelled to testify under oath — or face contempt of Congress. (SOURCE: Occupy Democrats) They’re taking children from Minnesota and locking them up like criminals in detention camps in Texas. For the love of God, send our kids home and bring an end to this nightmare.
-Minnesota Governor Tim Walz A federal judge declined to compel federal officials to preserve all evidence in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, voicing confidence that court intervention isn’t needed. 
Democratic strategist James Carville said he favors Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) as the party's nominee for president in the 2028 election. Pritzker’s national profile has risen in recent months due to clashes with President Trump over immigration enforcement in the Windy City. February 4, 2026
Christians need to speak out against current injustices I made a statement to a fellow churchgoer last week regarding the depressing and unsettling state of our nation. He said something about fake news and God’s will. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he added, “Nothing any of us can do about it.” I was irritated by both his indifference and the ease in which he spoke. Not long after that, the image of Jesus came to mind. I envisioned him standing before Pontius Pilate, and saying, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To which Pilate replied, “What is truth?” Pilate knew Jesus was innocent yet he chose to shrug his shoulders and wash his hands of it. (Moab Times; 2.4.26) READMORE>>>>> February 3, 2026
Greg Laurie Reveals the Signs Are Clear: Jesus and the Last Days Amid escalating global conflict and constant crisis headlines, Pastor Greg Laurie says Christians should not respond with fear but with expectation rooted in Scripture.n a recent teaching titled “Jesus and the Last Days,” Laurie turned to John 14 and Matthew 24 to address growing questions about whether the world is nearing the end times. He argued that the upheaval dominating the news cycle mirrors what Jesus described as signs of the times. “All around us are what we would call signs of the times,” Laurie said. “And they’re all saying one thing. Jesus is coming.” Laurie emphasized that Bible prophecy is intended to prepare believers rather than alarm them. Quoting Jesus’ words in John 14, he reminded listeners that Christ told His followers not to let their hearts be troubled because He has prepared a place for them and promised to return. (Charisma; 2.5.26) READMORE>>>>> Apologist Wes Huff dismisses viral papyrus about Bible giants: 'Sensationalism' Prominent Christian apologist Wesley Huff recently dismissed an ancient Egyptian papyrus that has gone viral this week amid reports that it affirms the existence of the giants from the book of Genesis. An ancient Egyptian papyrus known as "Anastasi I," which has been in the British Museum since 1839 and that scholars date to the 13th century B.C., has made headlines in recent days after being covered by both The Daily Mail and the New York Post, whose tweet about the text has drawn nearly 5 million views. (Christian Post; 2.4.26) READMORE>>>>> Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen For years, leaders of the Evangelical Immigration Table have summed up the Bible’s view of immigration in three words: Welcome the stranger. In Bible studies, sermons, videos and other resources, the coalition of denominational and nonprofit leaders has sought to remind evangelical churchgoers to see immigrants as their neighbors and people worthy of love and support. They’ve advocated for reforms that ensure the United States’s borders are secure, keep immigrant families intact, and provide a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. Zach Szmara, an Indiana pastor and longtime supporter of EIT, said the Bible, not politics, should shape how evangelicals see the issue of immigration. (Christian Century; 2.3.26) READMORE>>>>> February 2, 2026
Saying ‘Welcome the Stranger’ Is Easy. Hosting a Toddler Is Not. Elias Rodriguez has legally crossed the Texas-Mexico border hundreds of times. He knows every efficiency, like which crossings to use when or whether a snaking line of brake lights means you should stop for dinner in El Paso or hold out for tacos on the other side. He’s on a first-name basis with many Border Patrol officers, and he’s never had trouble crossing until last month. But now he’s being detained and questioned by American authorities each time, held for hours and subjected to intense questioning. Rodriguez thinks he can explain this sudden scrutiny. At Thanksgiving, he escorted three Venezuelan children to be reunited with their mother in Venezuela after she was deported from America without them. His best guess is that the trip put him on some kind of Department of Homeland Security list. (Christianity Today; 2.2.26) READMORE>>>>> February 1, 2026
Moderate churches 'hollowed out' as Christian Right’s 'extreme influence' persists In a survey released in March 2023, Pew Research Center examined Americans' views on different religious groups. Pew found that 27 percent of respondents had a "very" or "somewhat unfavorable" view of evangelicals, while only 10 percent had that view of Mainline Protestants and 6 percent felt that way about Jews. But the fact that evangelicals fared badly in Pew's survey doesn't mean that they are going away. (Alternet; 2.1.26) READMORE>>>>> Why Does Jesus Silence People Who Say Who He Is? (Mark 1) Generally speaking, Jesus had to defer the full disclosure of his identity (cf. Mark 7:24, Mark 8:30, Mark 9:9, 30) because God’s Messiah was to die and be raised from death in order to be enthroned as the eternal Messiah-ruler (Acts 2:36; contrast with John 6:15). During the time of Jesus’s public life, there was, therefore, an anticipation of the ultimate disclosure of his unusual messianic identity (Mark 9:9) Historically speaking, popular Judaism at the time of Jesus expected a Davidic, political messianic king who would arise to liberate the Jewish people from Roman oppression and impurity. Various other forms of messianic expectation of Jews at the time of Jesus have also been noted,2 but these were not general or prevalent views. The heightened hope for a political messiah among Jewish people (esp. among the Pharisees; e.g., Acts 5:36–37) in the first half of the first century AD went hand in hand with a narrowing of OT messianic expectations (cf. the narrow focus on 2 Sam. 7:12–14, 16 in Second Temple Judaism; cf. 4QFlor [Dead Sea Scrolls] I, 11–13). (Crossway; 2.1.26) READMORE>>>>> January 31, 2026
Texas Dem who said God is ‘nonbinary’ now says atheists are more ‘Christ-like’ than Christian colleagues Texas Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is facing renewed outrage for his comments on God and faith after claiming on a podcast that atheists are "more Christ-like than" some of his Christian colleagues in the Texas House."Instead of putting the 10 Commandments in every classroom, instead of forcing school children to read the Bible against their wills, why don't we, all of us, look inward and figure out how we can be more Christ-like, even when it's uncomfortable," Talarico, a Democrat in the Texas House, said on the "Politics War Room" podcast published Friday. The podcast is hosted by journalist Al Hunt and Democratic strategist James Carville. (Yahoo; 1.31.26) READMORE>>>>> January 30, 2026
ADL appoints former head of embattled Gaza aid foundation to its board The Anti-Defamation League named Rev. Johnnie Moore, who led the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, to its board of directors last week. Moore became the public face of the foundation over the summer as it faced blame for hundreds of Palestinian civilians being killed while attempting to access aid at distribution centers that critics said were risky and inefficient. But the ADL described the foundation, which was created with support from the U.S. and Israeli governments, as a “historic effort to provide nearly 200 million meals for free to the people of Gaza,” in a press release. (Forward; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> Disciples of Colorado Christian-Right Leader in Congress Handed Power to Trump Last Year In January 2025, Republicans enjoyed a unified government with the White House, Senate and House under GOP control, but leaders were far from unified in a year that included a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in history. House Speaker Mike Johnson then continued to keep the House on an extended hiatus. Meanwhile, the Senate took 659 votes, the most in modern history, according to Scripps News. Under Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the chamber approved 417 Trump nominees in record time. Both Johnson and Thune are evangelical Christians and disciples of James Dobson, the politically active Focus on the Family founder who died in August 2025. Johnson worked under Dobson as one of the first attorneys for legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which Dobson helped found in 1984. Johnson called Dobson “a personal hero of mine” and “a singular figure in my life” who “did more for our cause than arguably anyone in generation” at Dobson’s October memorial service. Thune was elected in 2004 after Dobson used his platform at Focus on the Family and a new political organization called Focus on the Family Action to support Thune and five other GOP Senate candidates, all of whom won. (Colorado Times Recorder; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> Christians outraged after Colombia's Pres. Petro denies Jesus is Lord, claims He had sex with Mary Magdalene During the reopening of a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, President Gustavo Petro delivered a speech that sent shockwaves through the country's religious community. In his speech, Petro said he refuses to call Jesus "Christ," arguing that it is a Greek name used to turn the figure of the Redeemer into a symbol of "power and king," something that, according to him, Jesus never was. (Christian Post; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen For years, leaders of the Evangelical Immigration Table have summed up the Bible’s view of immigration in three words: Welcome the stranger. In Bible studies, sermons, videos and other resources, the coalition of denominational and nonprofit leaders has sought to remind churchgoers to see immigrants as their neighbors and people worthy of love and support. They’ve advocated for reforms that ensure America’s borders are secure, keep immigrant families intact and provide a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. (Julie Roys; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> Don Lemon Got Arrested Over a Church Protest. It’s Not Just Any Church. Why is the Trump administration arresting journalists and activists over a protest inside a Minnesota church? The official reason the government cited Friday—when it arrested independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, as well as two others—was that they were part of a “coordinated attack” on Cities Church in St. Paul. It’s a strange claim: Videos from the incident, which occurred Jan. 18, showed protesters being loud in interrupting a worship service, but not physically touching anyone or damaging any property. The protest may have been unpleasant for those in the pews—videos showed at least one man haranguing people for their complicity in supporting ICE—but it’s hardly an “attack.” (Slate; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> January 29, 2026
6 Ways Predestination Is an Outworking of God’s Love Predestination is that act in eternity past in which God ordained or decreed that those he had set his steadfast love on would inherit eternal life. So predestination refers to an action taken by God before the world existed. It points to his eternal, pre-temporal decree of what he would bring to pass in time, in history (see also John 10:14–16, 24–30; Acts 13:44–48; 2 Thess. 2:13).1 The ultimate purpose of predestination was the establishment of God’s spiritual family, his adopted sons and daughters in union with the Son of God, Jesus Christ. God foreknew us and predestined us to become like Jesus—spiritually, morally, and physically. This is what it means “to be conformed” to his “image” (Rom. 8:29). (Crossway; 1.30.26) READMORE>>>>> The Silence of Kristi Noem’s Church “My relationship with the Lord is my foundation in all things. As a result, the values I hold according to biblical principles impact my decisions: we are called to love, but we’re also instructed to stand for truth. I’m hopeful my leadership reflects that.” That’s what Kristi Noem told South Dakota Public Radio in 2018 as she ran for governor. She added in her interview that she was active in the Foursquare Family Worship Center in her hometown of Watertown, her grandparents helped start the church, and she and her husband “were children’s pastors there and we still teach kids church on Sunday mornings.” The Foursquare Church is a Pentecostal denomination that grew out of the movement started in 1923 by controversial, media-savvy evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. According to the U.S. Religion Census in 2020, the denomination today has more than 1,600 congregations with more than 360,000 members. Even if most people don’t know Noem’s decades-long membership, she’s perhaps the most high-profile member today (Public Witness; 1.29.26) READMORE>>>>> January 28, 2026
A faithful way for progressive Christians to do evangelism Is there a faithful way for progressive Christians to do evangelism? That was the topic for the Rev. Dr. Gini Norris-Lane, executive director of UKirk Collegiate Ministries, during last week’s Annual Event of the Association of Partners in Christian Education, held online and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Norris-Lane led a workshop that held space for participants to both listen and weigh in on a topic many Presbyterians find increasingly important, if a little uncomfortable.(PC USA; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>> How to Witness Well in Post-Christian America Times have changed significantly in my 50 years as a believer. Here in the United States, the perception and position of the Christian faith has flipped from seemingly being the home team to being the visitors instead, even perhaps the rivals met with booing. Some survey data suggests the decline in U.S. Christianity may be leveling off, but that’s after a significant drop. In 2007, 78 percent of American adults identified as Christians. In 2024? Only 63 percent. We live in a post-Christian context, even, at times, a “negative world” in which being a believer is not just neutral but socially detrimental. This shift changes everything about how we present Christ. Our world is not new; it’s much like the world of the first-century church. Now, though, we must reckon with stereotypes about Christians and peoples’ past experiences of church. (Christianity Today; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>> Christian Nationalist Propaganda Machine Rallies Around Trump and ICE President Donald Trump was elected with overwhelming support of white evangelical voters, thanks in part to Christian nationalist leaders, media outlets, and activist networks that now function as virtual 24/7 public relations operations for Trump and his regime. Relentless pro-Trump propaganda wrapped in the language of faith undoubtedly helps explain how Trump maintains his strong support from conservative Christian voters despite his regime’s corruption, cruelty, and dishonesty. After ICE agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, some conservatives criticized administration officials for blatantly lying about the killings and dishonestly smearing the victims. But many of Trump’s religious-right supporters helped promote the false narratives and victim-smearing deployed by Trump regime officials, suggesting that the murdered people were to blame for their own deaths. (Right Wing Watch; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>> What Christians Need to Know about the Looming Potential Government Shutdown The point of compromise reached to make this happen came when the Democrats were able to win dedicated funding for body cameras, which ICE would be required to wear, as well as a reduction in the $115 million budget for ICE and a reduction in detention bed capacity, according to NPR. “This bill is not perfect,” Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat whose district covers a long stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, told NPR. “However this bill is better than the alternatives of either funding the department under a continuing resolution or shutting down the government.” (Crosswalk; 1.28.26) READMORE>>>>> January 27, 2026
PMI Foods: Reflections on a year of giving Throughout the U.S., millions struggle with food insecurity. Here in Utah, where PMI Foods is headquartered, one in seven people face hunger. As a global meat distributor, we believe it is our responsibility to fight food insecurity in communities across the country. In recognizing this responsibility, we embrace opportunities to do our part and alleviate hunger, forging partnerships with charitable organizations from Florida to California. As I reflect on 2025, I find myself incredibly proud of my team and grateful for their continued dedication to giving back. (Salt Lake Tribune; 1.27.26) READMORE>>>>> January 26, 2026
MAGA evangelicals’ 'religious freedom' claims are falling apart Roughly two and one-half weeks after the fatal January 7 shooting of motorist Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) agent, yet another Minneapolis resident was fatally shot during a protest in the city: 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, who worked in an internal care unit in a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House adviser Stephen Miller are claiming that Pretti was shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents in self-defense, noting that he was carrying a concealed weapon. But critics of President Donald Trump's ICE raids in Minneapolis are countering Pretti never pointed the gun at Border Patrol agents and that he was shot after being forced onto the ground and disarmed. . (MSN; 1.26.26) READMORE>>>>> To Stop ICE Killings, More Christians Need To Tell the Truth This past Friday, bearing witness felt close to frostbite. It meant weathering subzero temperatures in Minneapolis, with an even colder windchill biting my face. My body braced against the bitter cold, but my spirit was on fire. Along with hundreds of other faith leaders from around the country, I’d dropped everything to respond to a call from the city’s clergy to see firsthand how the administration’s increasingly aggressive and unlawful mass deportation efforts were impacting their community. Clergy who arrived on Thursday attended trainings from a local interfaith group and monitored neighborhoods for signs of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. On Friday, I joined an interfaith prayer service at Temple Israel while ISAIAH, a different local organizing group, led nearly a hundred faith leaders in civil disobedience against airlines that contract with ICE. We later joined tens of thousands of people in the ICE OUT of Minnesota march and a general strike supported by Minnesota unions, progressive faith leaders and community activists. I was inspired to see nearly the entire city—schools, restaurants, businesses—closed down in solidarity with the protests. One of my favorite signs, made by the Minneapolis group Multifaith Antiracism, Change & Healing, echoed Micah 6:8: “Do justice, Love mercy, Get ICE Out.” . (Sojourner; 1.26.26) READMORE>>>>> An open letter to Speaker Mike Johnson The Jesus of Scripture had much to say about the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). He didn’t qualify this. He didn’t say, “Care for the least of these unless it’s politically inconvenient” or “Love your neighbor unless they’re undocumented” or “Welcome the stranger unless it costs you votes.” Yet under your leadership, we have witnessed policies that treat human beings as dispensable — as problems to be managed rather than people made in the image of God. We have seen budget proposals that gut assistance to families struggling to feed their children. We have watched as health care becomes less accessible to those who most desperately need it. We have seen the stranger not welcomed but turned away, sometimes into danger. (Thew Daily Journal; 1.26.26) READMORE>>>>> Paganism In An Era Of Christian Nationalism When I was making predictions about the future of the Pagan movement 10 – 15 years ago, for the most part I was trying to project 50 years or more into the future. It’s way too early to say what I got right and what I got wrong. I still think we’re in an era of “speciation” where many different varieties of Pagan beliefs and practices are rising. Over time most will fade away, but those that are particularly robust will survive and grow. I still think Paganism will eventually consolidate in three major areas: witchcraft, polytheism, and non-theistic Nature worship. But there was an unstated – and unrecognized – assumption in all of those predictions; a presumed foundation for the future of the Pagan movement (and for the future of the entire world, but I’m going to focus on Paganism here). All of these predictions assumed we would be living in a multicultural and multireligious society where everyone (at least in the West) had the freedom (in practice as well as in law) to choose their religion and to practice it freely and openly. (Under The Ancient Oaks; 1.26.26) READMORE>>>>> January 25, 2026:
RANDOM NOTES & BYTES
 Zorek
Alex Jeffrey Pretti had a licensed gun on him. He did not use it but when ICE saw the gun they took it from him. THEN, after they had taken the gun...multiple ICE agents shot him multiple times. at close range.
Kristi Noem already delivered her prewritten speech and explanation for another death in Minneapolis. Before any investigation, of course. I just watched her whole media conference and quite frankly Kristi Noem is an evil liar. She likes to talk over people when she knows they disagree with her (saw her do that in congressional hearings also). She's lying about the WHOLE thing. She claims todays victim came with a weapon and attacked them. (There's no video of that). When asked if they would release the officers video she said no, it wasnt necessary. Noem is pure evil. Kent State Redux ICE soldiers from Trump are coming We're finally on our own This winter I hear the drumming Four dead in Minnesota Gotta get down to it, ICE are cutting us down Should have been gone long ago What if you knew her and found her dead in her car How can you run when you know? Noem lie lie lie lie, lie, lie Noem lie lie lie lie, lie, lie Noem lie lie lie lie, lie, lie Noem lie lie lie lie, lie, lie Gotta get down to it, Trump's ICE are cutting us down Should have been gone long ago What if you knew him and found him dead on the ground How can you run when you know? ICE soldiers from Trump are coming We're finally on our own This winter I hear the drumming Four dead in Minnesota Four dead in Minnesota (four) Four dead in Minnesota (I said four, I said four) Four dead in Minnesota (how many more?) Four dead in Minnesota (why?) January 25, 2026
Why Does God Call Himself “I AM”? Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Ex. 3:13–15) (Crossway; 1.25.26) READMORE>>>>> For Conservatives to Resist Anti-Jewish Ovations on the Far-Right, Committed Christians Have the Answer There are already plenty of pundits weighing in on polarization and division in American life. However, as a senior pastor for over 40 years, I can’t help but address one major problem that’s becoming all too bipartisan. I’m talking about the meteoric rise in antisemitism, which has clearly infected both political parties. This age-old bigotry has expanded in both overt and covert forms, not just in the U.S., but around the world.In the wake of the Tucker Carlson-Nick Fuentes controversy, anyone assuming that rising anti-Jewish animus in this country stems only from woke progressives is sadly mistaken. (Townhall; 1.25.26) READMORE>>>>> January 24, 2026
Letter: It’s ironic when non-Christians have to tell ‘Christians’ what Jesus actually taught Trevor Lee is pushing to rename our neighborhood after a nonwoke misogynist who paraded behind a banner of free speech to spread a gospel of intolerance and Christian nationalism. Trevor Lee may or may not hold those beliefs personally, he’s just trying to appeal to the shrinking, right-wing base of Utah Republicans — the tail that wags the dog in Utah politics — fighting to keep their stranglehold on power. (Salt Lake Tribune; 1.24.26) READMORE>>>>> Christianity has variety, quirks and complexity Back when I was religion reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader, I was writing one of my periodic roundup stories. I don't remember the topic -- it could have been anything from trends in church attendance to tenets regarding divorce -- but I was calling clergy from various denominations and faiths to sample their groups' views. I asked Ted Sisk, then the senior pastor of Lexington's Immanuel Baptist Church, what Baptists thought about the subject at hand. (Sisk passed away in 2017.) It was difficult to generalize, he replied. He could tell me his opinion, but he couldn't speak on behalf of his brothers and sisters. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette; 1.24.26) READMORE>>>>> January 23, 2026
Christianity’s Next Small Thing How does Christianity grow? This is a question that should be vital for Christians, especially since the Great Commission makes growing Christianity one of most important concerns.But do we really know? Sure, an industry of church growth, leadership organizations, and consultants have arisen to show us how to grow our church. Every day I get emails from Carey Niewhoff, Donald Miller, John Maxwell, Thom Rainer, and others. And, I should quickly add, I often find their advice helpful. (In fact, I should say that Carey Niewhoff has spoken into my life powerfully in the past few months. I am grateful for his ministry.) I also get almost daily invitations from organizations holding conferences on some aspect of church or ministry growth. But all this activity has, for me, made the question we started with — how does Christianity grow? — even more urgent. Because all the indicators are that, in the United States at least, Christianity is not growing. It is shrinking. (Ministry Watch; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>> Christian teacher fired for sharing Evangelical views appeals employment dismissal ruling A Christian lecturer was in court this week to appeal a tribunal decision that upheld his dismissal from a Bible college over a social media post expressing traditional Evangelical views on sexuality. Aaron Edwards argues that the Sheffield Tribunal's ruling upholding his dismissal unlawfully undermined his freedom of religion and expression. (Christian Post; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>> James H. Madison: Threat of Christian Nationalism grows One year ago this week, I authored a piece for The Indiana Citizen that drew on my scholarship of that dark period in Indiana history a century ago, when the Ku Klux Klan took over our state. I noted, “The past never repeats itself exactly, but in this case, there are lines that rhyme and questions that cause concern.” One year later — with their agenda becoming clearer — I might be guilty of actually understating the threat to Indiana posed by the Klan’s successors, including some Hoosiers who today identify as Christian nationalists, none more prominent than Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith. (Daily Journal; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>> JD Vance at March for Life: Abortion debate is a question of choosing either God or paganism Vice President JD Vance said in his remarks at the 53rd annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., that the debate on abortion is a decision between God or paganism. In his remarks Friday before the massive pro-life gathering at the National Mall, Vance touted the Trump administration's efforts on behalf of the movement. This includes pardoning pro-life activists imprisoned for protesting at abortion clinics and ending federally funded experiments using aborted fetal cells. (Christian Post; 1.23.26) READMORE>>>>> January 22, 2026
Pastor calls Minnesota church protest divine judgment, as civil rights attorney arrested A US pastor has claimed that an anti-ICE protest in a Minnesota church was an act of divine judgement, similar to Jesus flipping tables in the temple. It comes as a second person has been arrested in connection with the incident. Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged Nekima Levy Armstrong "played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota". On Sunday, protestors entered Cities Church Minneapolis mid-service, chanting “ice OUT”. They alleged that one of its leaders, David Easterwood, has been working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Premier Christianity; 1.22.26) READMORE>>>>> It’s Not ‘Christian Nationalism.’ It’s Conservative Identity Politics. Nearly a decade ago, many of us watched in shock as Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. Until that point, it was easy to write off his presidential run as an egotistical attempt to gain fame and power, with circumstances aligned to allow him to win the Republican nomination. But his victory meant that there was a real audience not disturbed by his bravado, sexism, and race-baiting. Academics like me were eager to understand what happened to the country. Into this breach came the concept of Christian nationalism. Given that an estimated 81 percent of white conservative Christians voted for Trump, it was easy to envision them as the main culprits behind his rise. Several academics (notably Sam Perry, Andrew Whitehead, Philip Gorski, Paul A. Djupe, and Joseph Baker) wrote articles and books on this subject, and as media attention followed, the notion of Christian nationalism quickly caught on among the public. (Christianity Today; 1.22.26) READMORE>>>>> January 20, 2026
Episcopalians ‘protest faithfully’ against authoritarian abuses, bearing Christian witness. This month, after ICE’s killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota woman led to escalating clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities, The Episcopal Church encouraged Episcopalians to review its “Protesting Faithfully” toolkit. Some Episcopal clergy and lay leaders already were putting the church’s guidelines and resource recommendations into practice, and they are placing even greater emphasis now on protesting faithfully. For the Rev. Wendy Abrahamson, a priest in the Diocese of Iowa, that means rooting her public witness in the example and teachings of Jesus. “If I’m involved in something, it’s important for me to really, truthfully make sure I’m doing it as someone who follows Jesus,” Abrahamson, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grinnell, told Episcopal News Service. “He talks about caring for those who are suffering. … There’s a lot of suffering going on right now.” (ENS; 1.20.26) READMORE>>>>> Jesus Turned Over Tables. He Would Have Interrupted That Minneapolis Church Service, Too. This past Sunday, a group of anti-ICE protestors interrupted a Minneapolis church service over one of its pastors’ leadership of a local ICE field office. The activists entered the sanctuary mid-service, and without physical violence of any kind, loudly confronted Easterwood and those gathered, with the hypocrisy of a professed Christian minister’s partnering with a violent and lawless Government-sanctioned assault on human beings made in the image of God. They disrupted comfort for the sake of those in profound discomfort. And in the wake of the incident, celebrity pastors, Conservative denominations, Evangelical seminaries, and Right-Wing media outlets have predictably fallen all over themselves in performative histrionics, condemning the protestors for supposedly violating the sanctity of the sanctuary and the peace of the pew sitters. As reported by the Associated Press, the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention called the event “an unacceptable trauma,” lamenting that the service was ”forced to end prematurely” as protesters shouted “insults and accusations at youth, children, and families.” (The Beautiful Mess; 1.20.26) READMORE>>>>> January 19, 2026
Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church is latest flash point over Trump’s crackdown When Nekima Levy Armstrong took a seat in church Sunday, it wasn’t at her usual congregation. She had come to Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s local field office, she had learned, was also one of the pastors. Roughly two dozen protesters had joined her to confront church leaders about pastor David Easterwood and his role with the ICE operation that has flooded the Twin Cities with federal agents, who for weeks have dragged people from their cars, stopped U.S. citizens, broken down doors and shot two people, killing one. (Washington Post; 1.20.26) READMORE>>>>> James Talarico says 'America isn't a Christian nation,' but admits founding documents 'profoundly Christian A Texas state lawmaker and U.S. Senate hopeful says, despite the nation's founding documents being based on the “radical teachings of Jesus,” the United States is “not a Christian nation.” During a Jan. 13 episode of the "Vote Common Good" podcast, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, explained why he rejects the notion of Christian nationalism, which he described as “an attempt to dominate our neighbors instead of loving them as ourselves.” (GPAHE; 1.19.26) READMORE>>>>> Deus Vult: Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalist Crusade to Remake the U.S. Military On January 16, 2026, the Office of the Secretary of War sent an email to Pentagon employees inviting them to a “Christian prayer and worship service” the following Wednesday. The invitation, featuring a graphic resembling a tombstone against an American flag backdrop, was nothing new. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has held such services monthly since taking office. What was new: the email also went, unsolicited, to defense contractors. And it made its way to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). Within hours, MRFF began receiving panicked calls. “For the first time that we’re aware of, it went to DOD contractors,” MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein told GPAHE. “If you’re probably at Martin Marietta, General Dynamics, Boeing, you start wondering if we don’t make an effort to be there by not going, will we turn out to be a tarantula on a wedding cake?” The expansion of Hegseth’s prayer campaign to the private sector marks a new front in the religious transformation he is waging at the Department of Defense, one that threatens the constitutional bedrock of religious pluralism that has sustained the American military since George Washington’s Continental Army. (GPAHE; 1.19.26) READMORE>>>>> Christian leaders urge worshippers’ rights after protesters interrupt service Several faith leaders called urgently for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants after anti-immigration enforcement protesters disrupted a service at a Southern Baptist church in Minnesota. About three dozen protesters entered the church during Sunday service at the Cities Church in St. Paul, some walking right up to the pulpit, others loudly chanting “ICE out” and “Renee Good,” referring to a woman who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. (Politico; 1.19.26) READMORE>>>>> January 18, 2026:
More Protestant churches closing than opening in America as older congregations struggle: study More Protestant churches are being closed in America than are being planted, and older congregations appear to be bearing the brunt of the contraction, according to data from a new Lifeway Research study. The study published Tuesday used data collected from 35 denominational groups that represent 58% of U.S. Protestant churches. The Tennessee-based research arm of Lifeway Christian Resources also cited information from the Annual Church Profile for 2023 and 2024 of the Southern Baptist Convention — America’s largest Protestant denomination. While 4,000 Protestant churches were closed in 2024, Lifeway Research estimates that only 3,800 were started in that year. The estimated 4,000 churches shuttered in 2024 represent nearly 1.4% of the 293,000 Protestant churches highlighted in the U.S. Religion Census 2020. (Christian Post; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> Talk: Unpacking the theology of Christian Nationalism Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, spoke on Saturday, 17 January at a packed meeting in St James Church, Islington, hosted by Better Story, a movement of Christians organising to resist the far right. Dr Paynter described Christian Nationalism as being ethnic and political as well as religious. It stresses an 'us against them' stance where 'we' are British, Christian and mostly white and 'they' are foreigners, refugees, migrants, outsiders, members of non-Christian religions and often people of colour. It is often associated with open racism and xenophobia. British Christian Nationalism has been gaining ground in the past ten years, since Britain First members targeted mosques by preaching outside them and leafleting inside them. At a July 2024 rally of far-right supporters organised by Tommy Robinson, preacher Cei Dewar spoke about being at war against Muslims and all other 'enemies' of Christian Britain. At Robinson's September 2025 Unite the Kingdom rally in London, attended by around 150,000 people, preacher Brian Tamaki called for the banning of all religions except Christianity and suggested that there is a state of war between Christians and all non-Christian religions. (Independent Catholic news; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> Court case may decide fate of religious symbols in public buildings The European Court of Human Rights is reviewing a case that could determine whether religious symbols may be displayed in courtrooms and other public buildings. The case arises from complaints by Greek atheists who say the presence of Christian icons violated their right to a fair trial and religious freedom. The legal challenge involves two separate hearings held in 2018 and 2019 in the Greek Supreme Administrative Court. In both cases, the applicants requested the removal of a Christian Orthodox icon of Jesus Christ from the courtroom, arguing that its display breached Article 6 and Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion, respectively, according to the legal advocacy group ADF International. (Christian Post; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> Protesters Disrupt Southern Baptist Church of Pastor Who Leads ICE Office in Minnesota On Sunday (Jan. 18), an unplanned liturgy of “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good!” erupted in the sanctuary of a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Activists marched into the building to protest the fact that one of the congregation’s pastors is the acting director of the St. Paul ICE field office. David Easterwood, who is one of the pastors listed on the website of Cities Church in St. Paul, appeared on C-SPAN in October as acting director for the St. Paul ICE field office. Speaking during a press conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Easterwood talked about being “proud” of leading his ICE team. Last week, Easterwood made news for defending ICE actions in a free speech lawsuit by several Minnesota residents who were arrested while attempting to observe ICE actions. On Friday, a federal judge ordered limits on ICE, declaring they cannot arrest or detain “persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity.” . (Public Witness; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> Jerusalem Patriarch, churches say Christian Zionism threatens Christianity Senior Christian leaders in Jerusalem have issued a warning against outside interference threatening the unity and future of Christianity in the Holy Land, singling out “Christian Zionism” and political actors linked to Israel. In a statement released on Saturday, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said recent activities by local individuals advancing “damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism”, “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock”. (Aljazeera; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> How Colorado Springs became the center of America’s evangelical political power Colorado Springs didn’t just host America’s evangelical movement. It helped define it. That’s the conclusion historian William Schultz reaches in his book, “Jesus Springs: Evangelical Capitalism and the Fate of an American City.” Schultz traces how faith, power and place converged in one city, and how that convergence reshaped American evangelicalism far beyond Colorado. (KKRC; 1.18.26) READMORE>>>>> January 17, 2026:
RANDOM NOTES & BYTES
 Zorek
DOJ has opened an investigation into Tim Walz AND Minneapolis Mayor. Apparently the Thug In Chief has the DOJ investigate anyone who publicly criticizes him. Hopefully people will not be afraid to continue to speak the truth ...but that IS what the Thug in Chief wants.
“The Insurrection Act which has been used by 48% of the presidents, as of this moment. The elder President George HW Bush. He used it I think 28 times.” ---Donald Trump FACTS: Created in 1807, the Insurrection Act was used by Abraham Lincoln who invoked it in 1861 at the start of the Civil War to call up militia troops. Ulysses S. Grant used it most frequently, invoking it roughly 10 times to combat the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacist violence during Reconstruction. Rutherford B. Hayes and Grover Cleveland used it to intervene in massive labor strikes, such as the Pullman Strike. In the 1950s and 60s, it was used by Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson to enforce school desegregation and protect civil rights marchers, often over the objections of state governors. The Act was last invoked in 1992 by George H.W. Bush to quell the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. The Thug in Chief's consideration of activating the Insurrection Act against American citizens who protest against him and his ICE thugs would be step 2 in his steps to Martial Law nationwide. As his term continues it seems most everyone in his administration seems to get worse and worse. Trump, Bondi, Noem, Stephen Miller, Hegseth, Vance, Leavitt are all full on board with the Trump machine and wreaking their own havoc along the way. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's like every day is something new....but not in a good way with these folks. “When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.”
― Michael Ende, The Neverending Story Apparently Trump has lost 20 lbs. since he was elected. Paula White-Cain, who prays to him every night (since she said saying no to Trump is the same as disobeying God) , offered motivation and told him the weight would prevent him from walking on water.
Friends, our religion is not revealed in our creeds and prayers and songs offered in cloistered privilege; it is revealed in our choices in the turbulence and trauma outside of them. Faith isn’t what we say in a building for an hour on Sunday, but what we do for the other 167 hours of our week, where the costs and pushback come. We, 200 million people filling those 370,000 buildings, can call ourselves anything we want, we can make all sorts of declarations, and we can tell ourselves whatever sanctified story helps us sleep at night, but unless we are the visible, vocal opposition to the most shameful, violent, and anti-Christian presence in our nation that is ICE, we will not be Jesus Christians.
And that is a sin. --John Pavlovitz REPORTS FROM MID-2025 IINIDICATE THAT STEPHEN MILLER, a really short bald guy and senior advisor in the Thug administration, pushed for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aim for a minimum of 3,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants per day, a significant increase over previous rates, leading to escalated enforcement and community raids. This target was confirmed by Miller on Fox News, though the administration later presented it as a "goal" rather than a strict quota, according to various news outlets that report real news and were not Fox News. It's not impossible to suggest ICE members get financial awards for making quotas. The rumor that they get a Milk-Bone dog biscuit probably isn't true and, to me, would be an overpayment for the professional services they provide. Milk-bones were to be provided by Cosplay Kristi Noem because, well, you know she had this supply and, well, dogs don't really like her very much. Stephen Miller (ie, Pew Wee German) , alongside DHS Secretary Cosplay Kristi Noem, according to sources, push the new quota. The push intensified around May 2025 and led to a surge in ICE operations, including workplace raids, targeting individuals without criminal records, and increased arrests in local communities. The administration's Justice Department downplayed the "quota," calling it a "goal," but Miller publicly confirmed the target. Miller is the Thug In Chiefs Master Criminal. Though not confirmed yet, it's widely believed that Miller hangs upside down in a damp cave every night..And, though not official yet, it's rumored the new Ballroom will also have a high ceiling sectioned off just for Miller to rest between Fox News interviews after his morning goose stepping marching drills |
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